Courtney Upshaw knows the perception from the outside is that Terrell Suggs' injury puts Upshaw on the fast track to immediate playing time -- and a key role -- with the Baltimore Ravens this fall.
But Upshaw, a surprise second-round selection, maintains that isn't the case. Speaking at the NFL Rookie Symposium late last month, he said he never expected to have anything handed to him.
He planned on being ready to play, anyway.
"Terrell's injury definitely does not change anything," Upshaw said. "Even if he was healthy and in every practice I still would have to come in and compete. Those guys who were already, they're not gonna come in and let me just show up and take a job. I can't just show up and say I'm ready and walk in to a job.
"Sergio Kindle looks great. Chavis Williams, Paul Kruger, those guys have been in the system and they're hungry. I have to compete every single day."
Upshaw (6'2, 272) still isn't sure why he wasn't picked in the first round of the NFL Draft last...

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